Join us for a day of community building and land stewardship education at Ellis Nature Centre!

Young Agrarians invites you to an inspiring afternoon at Ellis Nature Centre, a non-profit hub for conservation, environmental education, and sustainable agriculture nestled in the heart of Lacombe County. With roots in the original 1906 Ellis family homestead, this vibrant site manages over 480 acres of agricultural land while advancing wildlife research, adaptive grazing practices, and community education.

We are excited to be joined by the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA), who will lead with an engaging talk about rotational grazing systems. They will dive into what rotational grazing is, why it’s important for conservation, and how to implement this system on the prairies.

What to expect:

Led by site manager Carolyn Ross, the tour will spotlight key areas of their regenerative farm practices and conservation work, including:

???? Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) Grazing – Learn how rotational grazing supports both livestock and ecosystems, enhances soil health, improves biodiversity, and helps build climate resilience.
???? On-Farm Honey Production – Explore the Centre’s bee program and how pollinators contribute to land stewardship.
???? Chicken Workshops – Learn the basics of poultry care and how it fits into ecological farm systems.

Enjoy a walk through their demonstration gardens, restored wetlands, and bird habitat areas, while hearing how Ellis Nature Centre models the co-existence of agriculture, conservation, and community.

This event is for you if you are looking for an opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, land stewards, and nature lovers while learning about practices that regenerate the land.

Bring your curiosity and regenerative farming questions!
WHEN: July 26, 2025 | 1-4:30 pm

LOCATION: Treaty 6 Territory | Ellis Nature Centre | 39502 Range Rd 260, Lacombe County, Alberta

DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 2 take Hwy 597 East (signs to Joffre) near Blackfalds. Continue on Hwy 597 to Prentiss Road-Range Road 260, turn north (left) for 5km. Turn into Ellis Nature Centre driveway (directly across from the MEGlobal-DOW plant).

SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
1pm Arrival, check-in and welcome circle
1:45 Sustainable Grazing talk by Canadian Forage and Grassland Association
2:30 Overview of Ellis Nature Centre’s work
2:45 Tour of Ellis Nature Centre
3:45 Potluck
4:30 Departure

Note: There is a Bat Conservation event in the evening including a talk at 8:00pm and an outdoor interactive bat count from 9:30pm -10:30pm. Farm tour attendees can attend, but registration is required. The event is $10/person and registration will open in June.

BRING: You are invited to bring a food item to contribute to the potluck. If you can, please include a little card with ingredients, for folks with food sensitivities. Please bring fully prepared dishes only. Cold storage is available at the Nature Centre.

To enjoy the potluck, please bring your plate, cutlery and cup. There will be a place to clean dishes if you need to. Bring a water bottle, and any sunscreen and insect repellant you might need. Make sure to wear weather and farm-suitable clothing and footwear. There are picnic tables,  a seating area and restroom facilities onsite. 

ACCESSIBILITY: If you have any accessibility needs, please get in touch with us at [email protected]

Funding for this event, in part, has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund. Funding for this event is also provided [in part] by Farmers for Climate Solutions.